Reading & Northern Lehigh Gorge Train at Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Reading & Northern Lehigh Gorge Train at Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is part of the Reading and Northern, best known
(in my photos at least) as the operator of a most impressive steam locomotive. (*)

The EMD GP38-2 diesel-electric locomotive began service on the Southern Railway, later Norfolk Southern,
before becoming a part of the Reading & Northern's roster. She has just returned the Lehigh Gorge Scenic
Railway Excursion train to Jim Thorpe Station after an Autumn Colors roundtrip through this inviting stretch of
railroad. The caboose seen here is, as one would expect, at the rear of the train for the outbound portion, but
the diesel does a run-around at Old Penn Haven, coupling up to the "caboose-end" for the return to Jim Thorpe.

Aside from the caboose, the train has a more conventional consist of both open-window and
climate-controlled carriages, but also, in season, a fully open car with benches running its full length
providing outward views, to both sides, of the passing scenery as the train follows the Lehigh River.

In a few minutes, the diesel will uncouple from the caboose, proceed north to a crossover and then double
back alongside the long train to couple up to the front end for another scenic jaunt along the Lehigh River.

©2024 Steve Ember
(*)